New York Yankees 2 — Tampa Bay Rays 4
CC Sabathia lost the lead in tonight’s 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Through the first four innings, CC Sabathia and David Price held the game to a scoreless pitcher’s duel. In the fifth inning, the Yankees got to the tough lefty. Alex Rodriguez hit a single back up the middle and Vernon Wells would follow with a single of his own. Curtis Granderson would strike out but Mark Reynolds would find a single against the shift to load the bases. Austin Romine would come up with the bases loaded and two outs. After getting the full count, Austin Romine would follow up with three foul balls. The last pitch would be just high enough for ball four and the Yankees got their first run on a bases-loaded walk by their catcher.
Ichiro Suzuki would hit a high chopper to Ben Zobrist and the Rays second baseman would have a decision to make. Romine would be slightly chased back on the play but Zobrist chose to throw to get Ichiro out but Austin Romine would safely get to second and the Yankees second run also scored.
After five scoreless innings with eight ground outs, CC Sabathia now had a lead to work with.
Left fielder Sam Fuld would start with a soft fly ball in front of Soriano for a lead off single in the sixth inning. Desmond Jennings would walk on four straight balls and the game would turn around. Ben Zobrist would hit a double into the left center gap and the two game-tying runs scored. Evan Longoria would follow up with a single to left field and the Yankees were trailing now. Sabathia would finish the inning but the damage was done. He would get one more out in the seventh inning before Preston Claiborne was called on.
In 6.1 innings, CC Sabathia allowed three runs on six hits while walking two and striking out seven. A good outing by most standards but CC Sabathia has lived to a higher standard to most fans and to himself.
In the eighth inning, Preston Claiborne’s second inning of work, he would give up a solo home run to Evan Longoria to give the Rays a 4-2 lead. The Yankees would not put up much of a fight in the ninth inning and the Yankees lost the first two of the three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Win – David Price (8-5)
Loss – CC Sabathia (11-11)
Save – Fernando Rodney (30)
Notables
Yankees
*Alex Rodriguez – 1 for 4, R
*Vernon Wells – 1 for 3, R
Rays
*Evan Longoria – 3 for 4, R, 2B, Solo Home Run (27) in the 8th, 2 RBI (69)
*Ben Zobrist – 1 for 4, R, 2B, 2 RBI (62)
Current Yankees Record: 68-61
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